A digger’s best friend: an A to Z of animals in war

Touring Exhibition

February 2009 to 28 June 2011

A graphic exhibition based on our hugely successful A is for Animals held at the Memorial between February and July 2009. 

With generous assistance from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs commemorations program, A Digger’s Best Friend: an A to Z of Animals in War recognises not only military dogs, but all animals that have worked alongside Australians in war for over one hundred years.

Curators of the exhibition have drawn together a fascinating array of images from the Memorial’s National Collection. They include working animals such horses, mules, pigeons and camels – and others equally important as friends: the mascots, pets and companions that gave soldiers affection, hope and relief from the stress of war.

In a twist upon the theme of man’s best friend, the exhibition also delves into those creepy-crawlies from the animal and insect kingdoms that have made life difficult and even deadly for soldiers. Drawings and photographs reveal rats in the trenches, flies in a ration tin and even a monstrous cobra that moved in with the Australian occupants of a four-man tent in Vietnam in 1967.

An exhibition for all ages, A Digger’s Best Friend represents an exciting direction for the Memorial’s travelling exhibition program.  Recognising the value of providing families with a museum experience that answers the learning needs of children, the curators have worked closely with teachers and literacy consultants to develop a child-friendly exhibition that encourages children to learn in the company of their adult family.